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LE

VICTORVILLE, Calif. - When Marine Lance Cpl. David Battle learned he'd either have to sacrifice his ring finger or the wedding band he wore, he told doctors at a field hospital in Iraq to cut off the finger.

The 19-year-old former high school football star suffered a mangled left hand and serious wounds to his legs in a Nov. 13 fire fight in Fallujah. Battle, who is recovering at his parents' home in this desert city 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, came under attack as he and fellow Marines entered a building. Eleven other Marines were wounded.

Doctors were preparing to cut off Battle's ring to save as much of his finger as they could.

"But that would mean destroying my wedding ring," he said. "My wife is the strongest woman I know. She's basically running two people's lives since I've been gone. I don't think I could ever repay her or show her how grateful ... how much I love my wife, my soul mate."

With his approval, doctors severed his finger, but somehow in the chaos that followed, they lost his ring.

Although Battle was disappointed, his wife, Devon, said she was honored.

"I can't believe he did that," she said. "At first I was mad when he told me, but then I realized how lucky I am to have him in my life."

The couple, who met in the eighth grade, were married in June, just two weeks before Battle left for Iraq. He hopes to eventually return to the Marines, and to replace his wedding ring, but that will have to wait until he recovers.

In the meanwhile, Battle's high school has planned a banquet in his honor next week.

"We need to make more David Battles," said Daniel Pierce, the school's assistant head coach. "He is one amazing guy."

Sound Off...What do you think? Join the discussion.

Bravo Bravo sets himself a depressingly low standard which he consistently fails to achieve.

LE

VICTORVILLE, Calif. - When Marine Lance Cpl. David Battle learned he'd either have to sacrifice his ring finger or the wedding band he wore, he told doctors at a field hospital in Iraq to cut off the finger.

The 19-year-old former high school football star suffered a mangled left hand and serious wounds to his legs in a Nov. 13 fire fight in Fallujah. Battle, who is recovering at his parents' home in this desert city 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, came under attack as he and fellow Marines entered a building. Eleven other Marines were wounded.

Doctors were preparing to cut off Battle's ring to save as much of his finger as they could.

"But that would mean destroying my wedding ring," he said. "My wife is the strongest woman I know. She's basically running two people's lives since I've been gone. I don't think I could ever repay her or show her how grateful ... how much I love my wife, my soul mate."

With his approval, doctors severed his finger, but somehow in the chaos that followed, they lost his ring.

Although Battle was disappointed, his wife, Devon, said she was honored.

"I can't believe he did that," she said. "At first I was mad when he told me, but then I realized how lucky I am to have him in my life."

The couple, who met in the eighth grade, were married in June, just two weeks before Battle left for Iraq. He hopes to eventually return to the Marines, and to replace his wedding ring, but that will have to wait until he recovers.

In the meanwhile, Battle's high school has planned a banquet in his honor next week.

"We need to make more David Battles," said Daniel Pierce, the school's assistant head coach. "He is one amazing guy."

Old-Salt

What an idiot. I mean, when he eventually gets round to replacing the wedding ring (which the docs apparently lost anyhow, so waste of time having finger cut off) ..... which finger is he going to wear it on?

Old-Salt

Hint: you can but another ring (or wife if it comes to that), but fingers are slightly harder come by after the initial issue. Mind you I hope the medic get a few beers after he pawned the ring, 'losing it' my testicles

LE

He sounds sharp as a knife. I imagine he looks like something out of Deliverance.

I'm amazed that the Doctors even listened to him, the blo0dy hick.

The sand of the desert is sodden red-
Red with the wreck of the square that broke
The gatling's jammed and the colonel dead,
And the regiment blind with dust and smoke.
The river of death has brimmed its banks,
And England's far, and Honour a name,
But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks-
"Play up! Play up! And play the game!"

LE

This inbred banjo-playing jarhead could be on the next USMC recruiting poster : "Join the Marines ! We don't ask for fingers or faculties !"

Plonker !

- Apparently some moderators take themselves very, very seriously, and cannot abide posts such as:
"If however you offer to moderate you may be a sanctimonious, unfunny ******** to your heart's content."
- Deuteronomy 23:1
- Some comments are allegedly "very very nasty and uncalled for."

LE

- Apparently some moderators take themselves very, very seriously, and cannot abide posts such as:
"If however you offer to moderate you may be a sanctimonious, unfunny ******** to your heart's content."
- Deuteronomy 23:1
- Some comments are allegedly "very very nasty and uncalled for."

- Apparently some moderators take themselves very, very seriously, and cannot abide posts such as:
"If however you offer to moderate you may be a sanctimonious, unfunny ******** to your heart's content."
- Deuteronomy 23:1
- Some comments are allegedly "very very nasty and uncalled for."

LE

LE

Beanz, as you well know my mind is pure and unsullied by whatever thoughts you're alluding to !

- Apparently some moderators take themselves very, very seriously, and cannot abide posts such as:
"If however you offer to moderate you may be a sanctimonious, unfunny ******** to your heart's content."
- Deuteronomy 23:1
- Some comments are allegedly "very very nasty and uncalled for."

War Hero

"and just as the surgeon pulled his finger straight, to make the decisive slice, the marine let rip with a pant wetter of a fart, claiming, "well, sir, i've been reading that gol-darn arrse website and they said it would raise a few smiles...."

LE

"and just as the surgeon pulled his finger straight, to make the decisive slice, the marine let rip with a pant wetter of a fart, claiming, "well, sir, i've been reading that gol-darn arrse website and they said it would raise a few smiles...."